An Inventory of Records of Representative Patricia Gray at
the Texas State Archives,
1991-1993, 1995-2002,
undated (bulk 1995-2001)

Records include
legislative records, reports, correspondence, memoranda, printed
materials, agenda, notes, minutes, clippings,
press releases, publications, maps, statistics, photographs,
and a CD-Rom, dating 1991-1993, 1995-2002, undated (bulk 1995-2001), that
document the service of
Representative Patricia Gray in the Texas Legislature. The
records predominantly consist of bill files and background information on
legislation
introduced or sponsored by Representative Gray. The materials reflect her
service
on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission, work on behalf of her
district, and work on behalf of the state as a whole in regard to subjects
including the functions of state agencies, education, health care,
Medicaid, emergency management, abortion, prescription drugs, medical records
privacy, optometrics, and local issues of interest to Galveston,
Texas.

Texas State Representative Patricia Gray, was born on October 2, 1946,
earned a BA and Masters of Education from Mississippi State University, a
MA from the University of Texas at Austin, and a JD from the South
Texas College of Law. Gray practiced as an attorney and was elected to the
Texas House of Representatives, as a Democrat, in 1992 to represent District
23, Galveston County.
She was reelected and continued to serve through 2002.

While in the
House, Gray served on the following committees: Corrections, 1993-2002
(Vice-Chair, 1995-1996); Environmental Regulation, 1993-1994; Appropriations
1995-1996; General Investigating, 1995-1998; Civil Practices, 1997-1998
(Chair); and Public Health, 1999-2002 (Chair). In addition, she was appointed
to the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission in 1995, for a four year term to begin
in 1996,
and served as Vice-Chair of the Commission in 1999.

Records include bill copies, correspondence, memoranda, printed
materials, agenda, notes, meeting supporting documentation, clippings,
publications, reports, bill analyses, talking points, fiscal notes,
amendments,
redistricting maps, voting statistics, population statistics, photographs,
and a CD-Rom, dating 1991-1993, 1995-2002, undated (bulk 1995-2001), that
document the service of
Representative Patricia Gray in the Texas Legislature from
1993
through 2002. The records predominantly consist of bill files and
background information on legislation
introduced or sponsored by Representative Gray. The materials reflect
Gray's service on the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission and work on behalf of
her
district and the state as a whole. Major subjects of concern include
education, managed health care,
Medicaid simplification, emergency/disaster management and relief, abortion
and parental notification, prescription drugs and the pharmaceutical
industry, the privacy of medical records, local issues of interest to Galveston
(such as coastal erosion), and contact lenses,
optometrists, and opthamologists. As a part of Gray's work with the Sunset
Advisory Commission, the records include proposed legislation and sunset
reports
regarding Texas state agencies that include the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice, Texas
Commission for the Blind,
Texas Cancer Council, Children's Trust Fund of Texas Council, Texas
Commission for the
Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Texas Hospital Equipment Financing Council,
Texas Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities,
Texas Human Rights Commission, Texas Incentive and Productivity Commission,
Texas Governor's Council on People with Disabilities, Texas Board of Private
Investigators and Private Security Agencies, Texas Department of Public Safety,
Texas Attorney General's Child Support Division/Program, Texas Department of
Human Services, Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and
Texas Rehabilitation Commission. A single wallet file, located in Box
2003/081-10, contains general office files, including greeting cards,
resumes of job applicants, a few subject files, and other miscellaneous
documents.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily
reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to
provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

Arrangement of the Records

These records are listed in their original order. Where necessary
materials have been removed from binders and placed in folders.

Restrictions on Access

In accordance with Texas Government Code, Chapter 306, Representative
Patricia Gray allowed public access to the communications between herself
and
her constituents on December 11, 2002.

Because of the possibility that portions of these records fall under
Public Information Act exceptions, an archivist must review these records
before they can be accessed
for
research. The records may be requested for research under the provisions of
the
Public Information Act (V.T.C.A., Government Code, Chapter 552). The
researcher
may request an interview with an archivist or submit a request by mail,
fax, or
email including enough description and detail about the information
requested
to enable the archivist to accurately identify and locate the information
requested. If our review reveals information that may be excepted by the
Public
Information Act, we are obligated to seek an open records decision from the
Attorney General on whether the records can be released. The Public
Information
Act allows the Archives ten working days after receiving a request to make
this
determination. The Attorney General has 45 working days to render a
decision.
Alternately, the Archives can inform you of the nature of the potentially
excepted information and if you agree, that information can be redacted or
removed and you can access the remainder of the records.

Restrictions on Use

Cotton gloves provided by the Archives must be worn when handling the
photographs.

The following materials are offered as possible
sources of further information on the agencies and subjects covered by the
records. Please see the Archives general holdings for additional
information on the specific agencies that appear in the folder
list.

(Identify the item and cite the series), Records of Representative
Patricia Gray, House of Representatives, Texas Legislature. Archives and
Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives
Commission.